Measures on consumption market for VietGap vegetables

The model of growing vegetables under the Vietnamese Good Agriculture Practice (VietGAP) standards has brought hi-economic efficiency to growers and safety to customers. But, consuming these products is still a long story. Binh Duong Newspaper had an interview with Pham Van Bong, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DoARD) to know more about this issue.

A vegetables-growing facility under VietGap standards in Ben Cat town’s Hoa Loi ward

-What’s your assessment of the province’s program growing safe vegetables under the VietGap standards and consumption market for them over the past time?

Over the past time, provincial DoARD carried out a project on “Building safe vegetables-growing areas” in Ben Cat town’s Tan Dinh and Tan Uyen town’s Uyen Hung. The project changed the local farmers’ traditional production process to the new one. Accordingly, they bravely applied sci-tech advancements into production, increased the use of organic fertilizer, instead of pesticide…, contributing to generating safe products for customers.

The local farmers made coherence to ensure a stable supply of safe vegetables. Provincial DoARD also coordinated with provincial Department of Industry and Trade to promote consumption for these products at province-based supermarkets

-Some production models in the province obtained the VietGap certificates, but then they found it hard to be certificated again, due to too high costs and consumption market facing difficulties. What’s your idea of this issue?

For models with the VietGap certificate that is no longer valid, they will enjoy advantages for certification again if still ensuring the VietGap standards.

To have a stable consumption market, organizations and individuals need to apply their production process under the VietGap standards as well as paying attention to trademark building. Specially, they need to make coherence in production in order to get a stable supply of products at enterprises and supermarket’s needs…

Many customers have not distinguished between VietGap products and others yet. Which measures did the local agricultural sector take to deal with this issue?

To help customers soon get access to products generated under the VietGap standards, provincial DoARP over the past time mobilized organizations, individuals registering for the VietGap standards to take part in expos in and out of the province to promote their products. Provincial DoARP also organized a market-day for safe agricultural products, helping customers quickly approach them. But, customers should be careful when selecting agricultural products that have to ensure clean origins and labels.

-Which measures has the local agricultural sector stepped up to control over the quality of agricultural products?

Controlling over the quality of agro-forestry and fishery products is a major task of the local agricultural sector. Hence, provincial DoARD has always paid attention to instructing its units, including Plant Protection Sub-department, Sub-department of Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Management…, and entrust each unit with concrete tasks.

-Which measures has the local agricultural sector stepped up to help locals feel secure to foster models under VietGap standards?

Provincial DoARD gave provincial People’s Committee advice in promulgating Decision No.11/2014/QD-UBND dated April 8, 2014 on support policies for application of agro-forestry and fishery production process under the VietGap standards. Based on this decision, the two units, Plant Protection Sub-department, Sub-department of Agro-Forestry and Fishery Quality Management, have been ordered to guide the local farmers to carry out production models under the VietGap standards and give them financial support to get the VietGap certificates.

Reported by Thoai Phuong-Translated by K.T